Granny's Attic Socks by James N Watts

Granny's Attic Socks

Knitting
September 2022
Fingering (14 wpi) ?
28 stitches and 40 rows = 4 inches
in stockinette in the round
US 0 - 2.0 mm
US 4 - 3.5 mm
US 6 - 4.0 mm
70 - 375 yards (64 - 343 m)
Toddler(Child, Youth 6-9, Youth 10-13) (Adult S, Adult M, Adult L)
English
This pattern is available for $6.00 USD buy it now

Granny’s Attic Socks are a frilly, fun, silly pair of socks. This pattern comes with instructions for two ornament styles: a very fluffy and full stockinette mohair two-tiered ruffle, and a doll like simple lace and picot edge two-tiered cufflet. Whichever version you pick, you’ll be sure to feel your cottage core, gothic Lolita, Victorian child, Secret Garden, cursed heirloom fantasy. Tag me on Instagram @JamesNWatts and use the hashtag #GrannysAtticSocks.

If fancy ruffley socks aren’t your thing, this also makes a perfectly good vanilla sock pattern, as the ruffles are added after completing the sock. Conversely you can absolutely take a hand knit sock you already made from a different pattern and retroactively add ruffles or lace to it with this pattern! Too neat.

YARN
Mohair version-
For the sock: Ritual Dyes Maiden, 100g, 400yds (365m), 80% superwash merino, 20% nylon in the colorway Lithodora

For the mohair ruffles: Ritual Dyes Fae, 50g, 459yds (419m), 72% kid mohair, 28% silk in the colorway Lithodora

Lace Version-
Patons Kroy Socks, 50g, 166yds (152m), 75% washable wool, 25% nylon in the colorway Muslin

SIZING
Toddler(Child, Youth 6-9, Youth 10-13) (Adult S, Adult M, Adult L)
To fit a foot circumference of:
5.5(6, 6.5, 7) (8, 9, 10)” / 14(15, 16.5, 18) (20.5, 23, 25.5)cm
Sock is meant to be worn with 1-2”/2.5-5cm negative ease around the foot.

Finished sock has a circumference of:
4.5(5.25, 5.75, 6.25) (6.75, 8, 9.25)” / 11.5(13.5, 14.5, 16) (17, 20.5, 23.5)cm

Size up or down for a tighter or looser fit depending on your preference.

GAUGE
28sts x 40 rows = 4” / 10cm in stockinette stitch on size 0 (2mm) knitting needles or any size needle needed to get gauge.
In this pattern, stitch gauge is much more important than row gauge. All vertical measurements are provided in inches/cm rather than row counts, so prioritize stitch gauge.

YARDAGE
Mohair Version-
For the sock, you will need:
70(95, 120, 149) (171, 214, 252) yards
64(87, 110, 136) (156, 196, 230) meters
For the mohair ruffles you will need:
33(38, 52, 58) (69, 81, 92) yards
30(35, 48, 53) (63, 74, 84) meters

Lace Version-
The lace version uses one yarn for both the sock and the lace cufflets, the total yardage is provided below:
112(144, 187, 224) (261, 320, 375) yards
102(132, 171, 205) (239, 293, 343) meters

NEEDLES AND NOTIONS
• Size 0 (2mm) knitting needles, or any size that you meet gauge with. You can use long circular needles (24” +) for magic loop, short circular needles (9” -) for standard knitting in the round, or DPNs. Magic loop is always my preference.
• For the mohair version: Size 4 (3.5mm) knitting needles, or a needle 4 sizes larger than the needle you used to knit the body of your sock. Use any needle style you prefer for knitting in the round.
• For the lace version: Size 6 (4.0mm) knitting needles, or a needle 6 sizes larger than the needle you used to knit the body of your sock. Use any needle style you prefer for knitting in the round.

CONSTRUCTION
This sock is knitted top down, in the round. The heel is constructed using German short rows. The toe is grafted with Kitchener stitch. Both the stockinette ruffle and lace cufflet start by picking up stitches around the circumference of the sock. The lace version uses a picot bind off. Tutorial videos for picking up stitches, knitting a picot bind off, and German short row heel are included.

There are many different methods for knitting socks, and many experienced sock knitters have strong opinions about what works best for them. The sock pattern here is just one type of sock construction and serves as a vehicle for the fun ornaments which are applied to the finished sock. If you are an experienced sock knitter and have strong preferences about gauge, type of cast on, stitch count, heel construction, top-down vs bottom-up, then please knit your sock how you like. I’d advise that you follow the instructions for the length of the leg before beginning the heel, otherwise knit how you like, then follow the instructions for the ornaments.